Safety and signal apparatus for fire-alarm boxes.



M. RUGEL. SAFETY AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR FIRE ALARM BOXES.

APPLICATION nun JULY 5. 19l6- 1,217,069, Patented Feb. 20, 1917. v asnans-snsn 1.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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MICHAEL RUGEL, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SAFETY AND SIGIN'AL APPARATUS FOR FIRE-ALARM BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed July 5, 1916. Serial No. 107,621.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL RUGEL, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee andState of Wisconsimhave invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety and Signal Apparatus for Fire- Alarm Boxes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in safetyand signal apparatus for fire alarm boxes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire alarm boxwith an automatic means for imprisoning the person sending in an alarmwhile a signal and indicator are simultaneously actuated thereby.

A further'object of the device is the provision of an imprisoning meanshaving a' fire alarm box positioned therein, the door of" the box beingautomatically opened upon the closing of the imprisoning means affordingready access to the alarm mechanism within the box by the prospectiveoperator imprisoned by the device. a

A still further object'is' to provide 'a means for preventing theturning in of false fire alarms by arranglng an automatic means forretaining the operator at a point adja-i cent the alarm box until thearrival of the fire department and at which time the/ab sence orlocation of any firecan be ascer-' automatically open the. fire alarmbox to shift a signal arm to viewable position and to close the switchfor an electric lamp arranged upon the cage.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as thenature'of the invention is better understood, the same consists 1n thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and thenclaimed. 1

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which likedesignating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with the cagedoor open and with a portion of the roof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views through the device takenrespectively upon lines III-'III and IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the electric switch detached in its openposition.

Fig. 6'is a detail sectional view taken upon line VI-VI of Fig. 5 withthe switch closed. 7 v

' Fig. 7 is a vertical central sectional view through the fire alarm boxtaken upon the lineVIL-V II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical detail sectional View taken upon line VIIIVIII ofFig. 1, and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the door latch employed with the;cagetaken upon line IXIX of Fig. 4. 2

It being understood that any desired form of fire alarm box may beemployedfor containing the-tripping switch mechanism for sending in firealarms to the central station,

naled shaft 16 extending vertically through the ceiling or top 17 of thecage and also through inwardly projecting bracketslS and 19 carried bythe'casing frame 20. A winding drum 20 is mounted upon a shaft 21journaled in the upper end of the casing frame 20" and has a pinion 22upon its forward end in constant mesh with a' similar.

pinion23 carried by the shaft 16. A rope 24 iswound upon the drum 20being provided with an operating weight 25. upon its free end adaptedfor turning the shaft 21 and V pinions 22 and 23 for revolving the shaft16 carrying the door 13 therewith to its'closed position when'releasedby the operator.

-When the door 13 is open as best lllllS trated'in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, a spring pressed bolt 26 normally engages a keeper 27 carriedby the said door. A person desiring to send in a fire alarm from the box10, enters the opening 14 of the cage 12 and upon grasping and turningthe handle 28 connected to the bolt 26 by means of angu larly positionedpivotally connected links 29 withdraws the said bolt, releasing the doorwhich allows the weight 25 to descend, forcing the door to its closedposition as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. A spring latch 30carried by the cage 12 is arranged with the hooked end 31 within thepath of movement of the keeper opening 32 of the door which latch 30passes through the opening and automatically engages the door 32 uponthe closing of the door and holds the same closed until released byturning the handle 33 of the said latch positioned exteriorly of thecage.

The cage top 17 is provided with a conical roof 34 providing a chambertherein within which an electric lamp circuit switch 36 is positioned.The said switch consists of a frame 37 having contacts 38 for line wires39 extending to a suitable source of electrical supply while cooperatingterminals 40 are carried by the cross head 41 of slide bars 42resiliently mounted upon the frame 37. Conducting wires 43 are arrangedbetween the terminals 40 and a suitable electric lamp (not shown)arranged within a casing 44 upon the cage roof 34 and provided withtransparent side windows 45. The shaft 16 is provided with a pulley 46at a point above the cage top 17 and also with an arm 47, the latterhaving a path of movement during the closing of the door 13 forreleasing the same from its normal contact with the lever 48 connectedby means of a link 49 with the said cross head 41. stood that when thecage door 13 moves to its closed position, the arm 47 being releasedfrom the lever 43, the springs 50 of the sliding rods 42 shift thecontacts 40 into engagement with the contacts 38 closing the electricalcircuit for the lamp within the casing 44. The lighting of the lampindicates that the cage has been closed by a person contemplating thesending in of a fire alarm.

A signal member such as a semaphore arm 51 is pivotally mounted upon abracket 52 carried within the chamber 35 by the cage roof 34 andprojecting through a side slot 53 of the roof. A cord 54 connects theinner end of the arm 51 with the pulley 46 being arranged over asuitable sheave 55 intermediate the said arm and pulley and whereby uponthe closing of the door 13, the cord 54 is wound upon the pulley 46which latter turns with the door mounting shaft 16, such actuation ofthe cord 54 elevating the arm 51 to its danger horizontal position, asillustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings which indicatesthat the door hasbeen closed for imprisoning a prospective operator.

The alarm box 10 is provided with a swinging door 56 normally retainedin closed It ill thus be under position by means of a spring catch 5.which upon being released allows the door to swing downwardly to itsopen position by the force of gravity. A platform or shelf 58 is carriedby the partition 11 adjacent the box 10 having a bell crank rocker 59mounted thereon attached to a link 60 extending through a rear slot 61in the alarm box and pivotally connected to an angular lever which inturn is attached by means of a link 63 with the catch 57. A pivotedlever 64 is mounted upon the shelf 58 adapted for engagement by an arm65 carried by the lower end of the shaft 16 during the closing of thedoor 13, the lever 34 being connected to the rocker 59 by means of alink 66.

From this detailed description of the construction and operation of thedevice, it will be apparent that when the person desiring to send in afire alarm from the box 10 enters the opening 14 at the front side ofthe cage 12 he turns the handle 28 releasing the door 13 whichautomatically swin s to its closed position with the latch 30maintaining the door closed imprisoning the operator within the cage.The closing of the door automatically releases the door 56 of the alarmbox 10 allowing the operator to send in the alarm by suitablymanipulating the switch member 67 within the said alarm box. By sendingin the fire alarm, the fire department may respond thereto by going tothe cage 12 while the lamp within the roof casing 44 is lighted and thesemaphore arm 51 is elevated by closing of the door which notifies anyproper ofiicerwho is within viewable distanc from the said arm and.casing. By this arran ement the person sending in the alarm is *e tainedas a prisoner within the cage 12 until the arrival of a proper ol'licerwho releases the latch 30 by means of the handle and re-sets the deviceby opening the cage door 13 and closing the alarm box door 10.

What I claim as new is:

1. An alarm box safety mechanism comprising a cage, a swinging closuredoor therefor. a fire alarm box within the said cage, a door for thesaid box, a bolt ada 'itedv for retaining the cage door in its openposition, manually operable releasing 11 cans for the said bolt withinthe said cage, releasing means for the said box door, and trippingconnections between the said releasing means and cage door whereby thesaid box door is released during the closing movement of the cage door.

2. A fire alarm device comprising a cage, a swinging closure doortherefor, an alarm box arranged within the cage, automatic closing meansfor the said door, automatic opening means for the said boxsimultancously operable therewith, and a signal arm and electric lampautomatically operated simultaneously with the closing of the cage door.

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3. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a cagehaving an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaled throughthe roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said openingswingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing meansfor the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manuallyoperable means for retaining the door in opened position, and an alarmbox arranged within the said cage.

4:. A device of the class described comprising in combination with acage having an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaledthrough the roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said openingswingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing meansfor the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manuallyoperable means for retaining the door in opened position, an alarm boxwithin the said cage, a normally closed door for the said box, releasingmeans for the said box door, and tripping connectlons for the saidreleasing means carried by the said shaft whereby the said box door isautomatically released during the closing of the cage door.

5. A device'of the class described comprising in combination with a cagehaving an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaled throughthe roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said openingswingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing meansfor the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manuallyoperable means for retaining the door in opened position,- an alarm boxwithin the said cage, a normally closed door for the said box, releasingmeans for the said box door, tripping connections for the said releasingmeans carried. by the said shaft whereby the said box door isautomatically released during the closing of the cage door, a signal armand lamp member carried by the said cage, a normally open electricswitch for the said lamp member, releasing means for the said switch,and operating means for the said arm automatically operated upon therevolution of the said shaft during the closing of the cage door.

6. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaftjournaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the saidcage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the saidcage, an operating winding shaft journaled in the said partition andoperativelyconan alarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box,automatic releasing means for the said box door, and a trip arm for thesaid releasing means carried by the lower end of the said verticalshaft.

7. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaftjournaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the saidcage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the saidcage, an operating winding shaft journaled in the said partition andoperatively connected to the said vertical shaft, retaining means withinthe said cage adapted for engagement with the said door when opened, analarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box, automatic releasingmeans for the said box door, a trip arm for the said releasing meanscarried by the lower end of the said vertical shaft, a conical roof uponthe said chamber, a normally open switch adjacent the upper end of theshaft, and releasing means for the said switch carried by the upper endof the said vertical shaft.

8. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaftjournaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the saidcage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the saidcage, an operating windingv shaft journaled in the said partition andoperatively connected to the said vertical shaft, retaining means withinthe said cage adapted for engagement with the said door'when opened, analarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box, automatic releasingmeans for the said box door, a trip arm for the said releasing meanscarried by the lower end of the said vertical shaft, a conical roof uponthe said chamber, a normally open switch adj acent the upper end of theshaft, releasing means for the said switch carried by the upper end ofthe said vertical shaft, a signal arm pivoted to the said door, a pulleyupon the upper end of the said vertical shaft, and an operating cordsecured between the said pulley and arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MI OHAEL RUGEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. O.

